The Bonus Site – Online Gambling

There are many reasons to go and visit the Sin City. If you want a break from playing online poker, why not trying other forms of entertainment, with a more physical appeal?

It’s shocking, really, given Las Vegas’ freewheeling, skin-loving, anything-goes reputation, that there are only a handful of places along the Strip where one can sunbathe sans top. Yes, we’re talking “Euro-style” sunbathing, aka topless pools or “adult pool experiences” in PR-speak. For those seeking a seamless tan, the future looks bright.

Make no mistake, these are not spring-break pool parties. These mini utopias are exclusive, serene, and lavish with a splash of tasteful nudity; kind of like a foreign film festival. With pampering perks like cucumber slices and frozen towel services, poolside massages and Evian face spritzers, snazzy hors d’oeuvres and fruity libations, the adult pool experience is becoming more popular by the sun-soaked second.

The Venus Pool at Caesar’s Palace was the original haven for those hoping to sunbathe without the restriction of a top. Fittingly named after the Roman goddess of love, the pool was guests-only until it partnered with nightlife specialist Pure Management Group, got a face-lift, and opened its doors to the public. For a small fee ($20 for women, $35 for men), anyone can sip a mojito and sunbathe al fresco with a DJ spinning in the background.

Beach Club 25 at the Stratosphere is another pool where tops are not required. Located on the 25th floor of the towering property, the site offers spectacular views and is open to the public ($10 for men, free for women).

The few remaining topless options are strictly reserved for hotel guests. The Moorea Ultra Beach Lounge at Mandalay Bay is set apart from the 11-acre Mandalay Beach, has three pools, and aims to make every guest feel like a VIP. All for the small daily fee of $10 for women and $40 ($50 on weekends) for men. At the other end of the Strip, the European-style Sunset Pool at Wynn Las Vegas has lily pad style perches to lounge on and provides the top-notch service associated with Wynn.

On the horizon, the Mirage is building a similar space, to be cleverly called Bare, and the Venetian has partnered with Tao nightclub to create a topless-friendly 15,000-square-foot outdoor pool and entertainment deck enclosed by a Zen garden. Though nothing else has been officially announced, other hotels are bound to start loosening their ties, kicking off their shoes, and sitting poolside with a drink, a smile, and, brag about it, really.

So after a long night of gambling at Las Vegas casinos, a good idea is to try one of these pools to celebrate your success.

Professional rodeo man Jesse Bail loves riding bulls and playing poker, but he’s staying away from combining the two.

When you get a packed poker table playing hands, everyone thinks they are the toughest person in the room. Maybe they made a gutsy call to bust someone out. Perhaps they made a wild over-the-top bluff to win a monster pot. Or they might have gone all in as a major underdog only to crack an opponent’s favored hand.

But if you are playing across from professional bull rider Jesse Bail, it’s fair to say that he’s the toughest son of a gun in the room. And that has nothing to do with cards. He might not be the most skilled player at the table, but the good ole boy from South Dakota is a genuine cowboy that everyone will want to have in their home game.

After roughly five years as one of professional rodeo’s most consistent riders, 2006 was a tough one on Bail. The 27-year-old, who competes in steer wrestling, bull riding, and saddle bronc riding events, broke his wrist that year and has been struggling with the injury afterwards.

Riding bulls with a cast on probably does not help his rehabilitation much, though. “It was not too bad, but I switched hands for bronc riding. I had never rode that way, it was a little tougher then,” he says. “I won a little bit, but not great. So I have been using my cast hand. I have my four fingers I can use.” Now that is why Bail is the toughest guy at the table. And his poker game is starting to come together too, so watch out.

With his Dakota twang and massive Stetson, Bail is a classic character who should have a seat waiting for him in any card room. Think of him as Doyle Brunson with a little less skill and a little more dusty trail. Instead of area rounders, you are more likely to find him playing with other riders during stops on the pro riding circuit.

Most of the time, he enjoys playing with his fellow South Dakotan riders, particularly when they have a chance to meet up in (where else?) the historic western town of Deadwood. “It’s not far. It’s a fun little town,” he says of Deadwood. “I lost most of my money gambling pretty quick there”.